3-alarm fire in Orange displaces 13 people

A late night 3-alarm fire at an apartment building in Orange has left 13 people without a home.

Western Mass News spoke with Orange Fire Chief, James Young and he reports they were called to a 4 unit apartment building on Holtshire Road just before 11:30 p.m. Friday night.

Mutual aid had to be called in. The chief says water was trucked in from a nearby lake to help put out the fire.

"...This is a non-hydrant area of town a water supply was established at Lake Mattawa and tenders were called to truck in water," explained the Orange Fire Department on their Facebook page Saturday afternoon.

Luckily, there were no injuries reported and everyone was able to make it out of the building.

However, 3 families totaling 13 people, were displaced. We were initially told that those individuals were able to find other places to stay. The Orange Fire Department also reporting that the Red Cross is assisting these individuals.

There was no immediate word however, what caused the fire to start although it is not being considered suspicious.

"As crews continued to work suppression efforts and search for extension...conditions deteriorated rapidly and fire extended through the cockloft and attic area and the fire self vented through the roof," the Orange Fire Department said.

That's when the third alarm was struck.

For hours firefighters worked. By about 5:15 a.m. everyone was able to clear the scene.

The fire remains under investigation by the Orange Fire Department and the State Fire Marshal's Office.